Song Qinian agreed to meet Li Junshen for no other reason than to settle things between them.
They arranged to meet at a Western restaurant. When Song Qinian arrived, Li Junshen was already there.
He was wearing a black suit and a white shirt, with a black bow tie. He looked refined and handsome.
"Niannian…"
Seeing Song Qinian, he excitedly stood up to greet her. As he reached out to touch her, Song Qinian dodged him.
The smile on Li Junshen's face froze for a moment. He quickly regained his usual gentle smile and, after Song Qinian was seated, asked the waiter to serve the dishes.
Looking at the dazzling array of exquisite food, Song Qinian had no appetite. However, she still picked up her chopsticks and ate a couple of symbolic bites.
It turned out that no matter how delicious the food was, it was utterly unappetizing when eaten with someone you disliked.
"How is Zan Zan? I wanted to go see him, but I was afraid you wouldn't be happy."
Li Junshen spoke with caution, appearing wronged and humble. Yet, Song Qinian knew how cold and ruthless he was, and she couldn't be bothered to expose his pretense. She simply looked at him and asked indifferently, "Is Shen Huanling's kidnapping of Zan Zan related to you?"
Upon hearing this, Li Junshen slowly put down his chopsticks.
Slow and gentle English music played in the restaurant. It should have been a warm scene, but the atmosphere between them was chillingly cold.
"You suspect I incited Shen Huanling to kidnap Zan Zan?"
Song Qinian's face was expressionless. "I asked you first."
"I'll say it again, I don't know why Shen Huanling would kidnap Zan Zan. Niannian, you still don't trust me?"
"Yes! I don't trust you!"
Song Qinian looked directly into Li Junshen's eyes, her words piercing his heart.
Li Junshen's expression immediately turned ugly. Then, he let out a bitter laugh. "As expected, you've already judged me in your heart. Nothing I say matters anymore."
"You knew full well that Shen Huanling liked you, yet you went to the amusement park with her. You gave her hope, making her mistakenly believe that if our relationship broke down, you would be with her. The more you showed her how much you liked me and loved Zan Zan, the more she hated me and Zan Zan. Dare you say that when Zan Zan went missing, you didn't suspect Shen Huanling kidnapped him?"
"I..."
Before Li Junshen could speak, Song Qinian continued, "Shen Huanling clearly regretted kidnapping Zan Zan and even said she would send Zan Zan back to the Shen family's old residence. Yet, on her way to call you, she was in a car accident. If she hadn't desperately protected Zan Zan, he might have already..."
Even though Zan Zan had been discharged from the hospital, Song Qinian still felt a lingering fear and apprehension whenever she thought about that incident.
"Was the car accident your doing?"
By this time, Li Junshen had regained his languid and aloof demeanor. He shrugged, "Why would I do that? If Zan Zan died, you certainly wouldn't stay by my side. Besides, Shen Huanling just liked me; she didn't cause me any trouble. Why would I kill them?"
"No... Shen Huanling is too extreme. She fell in love with you two years ago. She knew you were her uncle's son, yet her feelings for you haven't changed at all. If she had been more sensible, or if she had forgotten you in these two years, it wouldn't have been any trouble for you. But she approached you again, wanting to be with you."
She paused, then continued, "She even went so far as to kidnap Zan Zan. What's to stop her from announcing her love for you to the Shen family or to the world? That would affect your reputation in Jinghua City. Jinghua City is Shen Chi Yan's territory, and you'll never be able to surpass him there. Adding such a scandal... As for Zan Zan... he is Shen Chi Yan's son, I've always known that. You can't tolerate him."
Listening to Song Qinian, Li Junshen maintained a faint smile at the corner of his lips, as if enjoying this moment. "Do you have any proof?"
"Anything that's been done leaves a trace. I will find the evidence."
Li Junshen chuckled. "Are you so certain your guess is correct? What if I told you I was never involved in this matter?"
Song Qinian remained silent, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
"Niannian..."
Li Junshen stood up and walked step by step towards Song Qinian. Song Qinian clenched her fists, her eyes filled with wariness. "Stay right there. Don't come any closer."
Li Junshen slowly stopped, his expression gradually turning grim. "So you've decided to get back together with Shen Chi Yan?"
"Yes!"
Song Qinian also stood up. Compared to her previous timid and cautious demeanor, she now bravely spoke her mind. "From beginning to end, the person I love has always been Shen Chi Yan. I want to be with him, and never be apart again."
The moment she finished speaking, Song Qinian felt a strong aura of malice and coldness emanating from Li Junshen, but she was not afraid.
"Then what about me? Is my love not important?"
"Your love?"
Song Qinian let out a loud laugh as if she had heard the greatest joke. "What is your love? You threatened me using Zhang Qiaoqiao, then you threatened me using Zan Zan and my family. You even wanted to imprison me and make me live a dark and hopeless life. I'm sorry, I don't need your kind of love."
"That's because I had no choice!"
Li Junshen suddenly became agitated, his handsome face contorted. "That's because I had no choice! I just wanted to have you, to give you happiness!"
"Happiness? Do you think I've ever been happy in the two years I've been with you?"
The restaurant had been booked by Li Junshen. After the food was served, only Song Qinian and Li Junshen were left in the vast dining room.
Before, Song Qinian wouldn't dare to speak to Li Junshen in such a loud voice, mainly because Li Junshen held her vulnerabilities. She was afraid that if she angered him, he would take it out on Zan Zan or her family.
But now, things were different.
Zan Zan was at the Shen family's old residence, and her parents were in a safe place. She had nothing to fear.
"Every night, I couldn't sleep, afraid you'd harm Zan Zan while I was asleep.
I dared not eat the food you made, nor let Zan Zan eat the food you gave him, for fear you'd poison us.
There wasn't a moment or a day that I didn't want to escape from you!
Li Junshen, I have never done anything to wrong you. I even endured years of hardship and could barely speak because of you. If you truly want to compensate me, then let me go!"
Listening to Song Qinian's accusations, Li Junshen's heart ached immensely.
Indeed, her kindness and obedience on Moon Island and when she first returned to Jinghua City were all a pretense.
It turned out that these two years had been torment for her.
Yet, these two years had been the happiest and most joyful time of his life.